Mike and Susan Kline were Judges again this year for our 2009 Wolf Awareness Week Contest. The Klines have experience as Volunteers with our Wolves and they have also have rescued Wolfdogs and given them a forever home. This year after the death of two of their rescue dogs, the Klines are parenting a very spirited young GSD pup who is providing company for their Wolfdog who misses his deceased packmates. They take their job seriously and we feel they made wonderful choices again this year.

We didn’t have any entries in the 3-5 and 6-10 age groups this year. That was disappointing. We encourage teachers and parents to get their children involved in protecting our vanishing wildlife. Please keep that in mind for next year.

In our 11-17 year old category our First Place Winner is Lorene McKinney of Stockton, California. She is a 17 year old student who has been learning about Wolves and is devoted to them for many years now. Lorene watches our webcam on a regular basis. Her entry was a beautiful diorama of our Wolves and the Preserve inspired by her watching the Wolves via the webcam and seeing pictures of them on our website.  The details of the diorama were wonderful. She included their den, the platform, feeding pans, a roadkill deer, logs and of course all seven Wolves. The creativeness and effort put into this entry made the Judges decision an easy one. Lorene asked that part of her prize be given back to the Wolves in the form of treats.  

In our adult category Zoya Asenova of Bulgaria submitted an outstanding Wolf painting and verse that touched the Judges. Zoya loves Wolves and animals of all shapes and sizes . She is a caretaker to homeless cats a dog and turtles. Zoya is a member of our Wolf forum and enjoys learning more about them.